[Closed] Kinesis X... Who's got one?

Indeed, does look like an updated FF29. Still the most versatile bike in my collection.

I got one as a winter bike. What do you want to know?

Looks ace. Like welshfarmer my FF29 is by far my favourite bike, its been built up a few ways and i still love it. If it was a smidge longer, be even better. Head angle im ok with, if its a smidge slacker ok but not too much.

Like.

The things I noticed so far.

- Internal routing is a bit noisy, I used the cable tie method to reduce the noise.

- I never understood the extra nut supplied for the rear axle, I asked kinesis and didn't get anywhere but so far it hasn't caused any issues not using it.

- Rear clearance is good, I have a 2.4 X-king with a MK3 arch rim and there is still plenty of room.

- I need to silicone up the dropper post holes to prevent water ingress when washing.

- The rear brake mount was a little off and didn't go on quite as smoothly.

Really enjoying riding it at the moment.

I've just ordered one in XS to build up for my wife. It should be here by the end of the week. With a set of 100m RS SID World Cup Boosts (under £300 from CRC!), some 650b Red Fulcrum Boosts (under £90 from CRC!), I should have the makings of a pretty light 1x11 XC blaster for wifey

(the XS sized Kinesis X is a 650b rather than 29er)

Will post up pics once it's built.

I always want to like the Kinesis frames, but then I look at the price and for the same sort of price you can get a scott scale alloy frame which is ~200g lighter

Same goes for their wheelsets which are a good price but according to spec are actually quite heavy despite the description

What do you want to know?

Well... Is it any good or not for a start?

I've ridden a couple of FF29's, found them remarkably capable despite the super steep HA. I owned a Sync Ti 29er for about 18 months too, found it out-rode its geometry like no other bike I've ridden (if that makes sense?), but I would still have liked it to be just a bit slacker (but not too much). I guess I'm wondering if it's going to live up to my expectations, or will it fall short... Something to plug through the mud (with good clearances) in the winter, but provide a sharp and engaging ride in my local woods when the fast summer treads go on. My Whyte 29c is superb at the latter, but piss poor tyre clearances mean it's totally useless as a winter bike...

Also, this thread is severely lacking in pictures... So if you've got one, PLEASE post a pic and any specs and why you've built it the way you have and how and why you like it...

I always want to like the Kinesis frames, but then I look at the price and for the same sort of price you can get a scott scale alloy frame which is ~200g lighter

Not quite sure where your'e coming from... Scott don't sell their ally frames on their own, and at 1750g the Kinesis X really is pretty bloody light for an ally 29er frame I'd say! I've had a couple under 2kg in weight myself already, found a couple under 1800g, but 1750 for a medium seems about as light as ally realistically goes whilst still maintaining a useful warranty. I guess the other thing about the X is it's fine with a 120mm fork up front apparently, I'm not after an XC race machine, more of a fast xc biased trail bike for my local woods, with huge tyre clearances for winter, but XC enough that should the idea take me, I could do the odd marathon event on it should I choose for example.

What I don't understand is why they have only included one set of bottle mounts on a xc/marathon frame. I was interested until I noticed that.

Interested in this thread.
Is it the larger tyre clearances that make this different from say a Cube Reaction frame off Bike-discount?

Not quite sure where your’e coming from… Scott don’t sell their ally frames on their own,

Yes they do.. or at least did. I bought one a couple of years ago for £500, M ssale, 1450g

They did a few years back, can only buy carbon frame only this year and they ain't cheap! I got super excited when I first saw the X, my first custom built MTB was an old Kinesis XC120 back in 2006 at the ripe age of 15 and I loved it, still have the frame now as I can't bring myself to part with it, it'll sit in the man cave for all eternity once it's done. I really wanted the X to be just what I was looking for. Sadly its just too short, an extra 20mm reach, a slightly slacker head angle and a steeper seat tube and it would have been spot on. A better colour would have been nice too!

The Kinesis looks good. Like an up to date but more pricey scandal. I would look at this if I needed an alu xc hardtail. Or the alu procaliber.

Just to add some interesting points into the mix for anyone thinking of buying one.

Most places are selling the frames for between RRP (£500) and £450. Winstanleys appear to have it priced at £500 during the day, but £400 in the evenings. Very odd, but I've checked three times now over successive evenings.

Also, the headset you will require is this one:-

https://www.merlincycles.com/fsa-tapered-integrated-1-1-8-15-headset-92745.html

The info can be found here:-  https://outlet.upgradebikes.co.uk/Outlet/Kinesis-UK/Kinesis-UK-Range/Headsets

I wanted to fit a Cane Creek 40 set of bearings, but I'm not sure what real world difference 41.8mm and 42mm or 51.8mm and 52mm makes?

My frame arrived today... weighed in at just over 1,600g naked (is a size XS with 27.5" wheels).

Am just off overseas for a few days, so will complete the build when i get back, but in the meantime, the spec is:-

Maxlight X - size XS

RS Sid World Cup Boost 100m forks

FSA No.42 integrated headset

Thomson Elite  50mm stem

Raceface Evolve Flat Wide handlebar

Ergon GE1 slim grips

Thomson Elite 330mm seatpost

Fabric Scoop ladies saddle

Shimano XT disc brakes with XT-level 160mm centrelock rotors

Fulcrum Red Power CL Boost wheels

Continental Race King Folding 2.2" Puregrip tyres

Tubeless valves and sealant

Shimano XT medium cage 11-speed rear mech

Shimano XT 11-42 11-speed cassette with appropriate chain

Shimano XT shfter with I-spec II bracket

Praxis Works M30 Cadet boost chainset with 32t direct-mount ring

Praxis Works threaded bottom bracket cups for M30

Wellgo MG6-AL flat pedals

Should be a fairly light (at around 10kgs) and robust set-up. There is still plenty of scope to drop some proper weight. I am toying with putting on a set of Stans Crest wheels and some Racesport versions of the current tyres. This should drop around 600g alone. An overall drop of 1kg should be doable without getting silly which will make it a very light alloy hardtail.

It's the first bike I've built in ages. The last was a new Cannondale Scalpel 26er (size large) which I converted to 650b and 1x10 and got the weight well below 10kgs (for a full suspension bike). No sure I would go with the Thunder Burt tyres again though... they punctured as soon as you looked at them.

I'll try to get the photos sorted next week.

Any updates? Really curious about one as a solution to being only allowed one bike.

Bump. This thread still needs more pictures!

The Kinesis X seems like a relatively rare frame only boost hardtail in this price range. It's just a shame they couldn't get another set of bottle bosses on there.

Another bump.

So is it a good mixture of trail fun and race bike for mid-pack wannabe?

Being boost will it take XTR M9000 cranks? (as in, will the cranks clear the frame, i.e. ignoring the issue of spacers for chainline)

thanks

Kinesis replied that M9000 cranks won't fit.

On the topic of adding a second bottle cage mount, "Not at this point but it has been mentioned"

and rather looking for an HT MTB that would make my local trails a bit more exciting again

gravel bike 🙂

Can anyone advise on sizing? I'm 6ft and normal proportions, not sure whether to go med or large?

Can anyone advise on sizing? I’m 6ft and normal proportions, not sure whether to go med or large?

I don't have an X but based on my experience with an FF29, I suspect you'd be on a Large. I'm 5ft7 and ride and medium. Before I got an FF29 I managed to test ride one in the South Downs so worth speaking to some stockists down there.

Based on the above, are we saying that you NEED a boost crankset then? I'd be running a 34t chainring and would have carried over my old non-boost SLX crankset if it fitted.

Does anyone have bare medium frame weights? I know Kinesis list them but I'm just looking for some verification (since my Tripster AT seems a bit lardy!)

I don’t know about the X but having ridden their steel Virtue, which for me is the closest in terms of the feel and zing of my old splatter paint Explosif, I’ve long hankered for a Sync in medium flavour..

Bump. Any pictures yet?

...thinking this frame would build up into a lovely monstercross bike.

cycle to work scheme has had me scratching my head - I've already got a crosslight, so an X looks like a cracking partner to it

just need to work out what else to put with it - and how much that would cost